Frisco ISD on Student Entrepreneurship and INCubatoredu
Nov 22, 2023
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Tommy Thompson, a marketing and entrepreneurship teacher, and Rupa Kumaran, a student from Frisco ISD, discuss student entrepreneurship. They cover topics such as the importance of community support, the changing roles of teachers, the development of communication skills in entrepreneurship classes, and the plans for post-graduation entrepreneurship. They emphasize the significance of community involvement and call on listeners to volunteer in schools.
The Incubator program in Frisco ISD encourages student entrepreneurship and relies on community support and the involvement of mentors and champions to bring real-world business knowledge into the classroom.
Students in the Incubator program have developed innovative solutions like My Course Way, a district-based application that simplifies the course catalog for students, and Infinity Board, a board game designed for neurodivergent students to develop interpersonal skills and address their specific needs.
Deep dives
Overview of the Incubator Program and Community Support
The podcast episode features a discussion about the Incubator program in Frisco ISD, which provides students with the opportunity to create their own businesses. Tommy Thompson, a teacher and former industry volunteer in the program, shares his experience in supporting the program and emphasizes the importance of community support. He highlights the need for mentors and community champions to work with students and bring real-world business knowledge into the classroom.
My Course Way: Simplifying the Course Catalog
Rupa Kumarin, the founder of My Course Way, describes her district-based application that simplifies the course catalog for students. She explains that the traditional course catalog in the form of a lengthy PDF is difficult to navigate and understand. Her application enables students to search, filter, and easily access information about courses, credits, counselors, academic guides, and more. By streamlining the process, My Course Way helps students make informed choices and take advantage of opportunities.
Infinity Board: A Niche Board Game for Neurodivergent Students
Isha Bandi discusses her board game business, Infinity Board, designed for neurodivergent students to practice interpersonal skills. Recognizing the lack of board games focused on this niche, Isha and her team identified an opportunity through the Incubator program. They collaborated with the special education department at their school and created a unique board game that helps students with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurodiverse conditions develop emotional, functional, and real-life application skills. The program not only taught them entrepreneurship but also helped them improve their communication abilities and gain a deeper understanding of their business.
On this episode of Getting Smart Podcast Victoria Andrews discusses student entrepreneurship with an awesome group from Frisco ISD. Tommy Thompson teaches Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Finance Classes, as well as the DECA sponsor in Frisco ISD. Before teaching he worked in the corporate world for 18 years, started his own business, and served as an industry volunteer in the INCubatoredu program at Centennial High School which he now teaches.
We’re also joined by two students: Rupa Kumaran, the founder of Infiniti Board, a Board Game for Neurodiverse individuals and Esha Bandi, the founder of MyCourseWay, a company that digitizes a school’s entire course catalog.